WHY? THE KNIGHTS OF EQUITY

It is a fact taken
from the actual records that about one-third of the enlisted men, fighting in
the Revolutionary Army under the leadership of General Washington, were of
Irish birth or extraction. Likewise, a great number of Irish-Americans fought
with the Northern Army and Navy during the Civil War, or War Between the
States, from 1861 to 1865.

Following the Civil
War, organizations began to form in the United States that were constituted
"to put the Catholic Church out of business". Or­ganized mobs,
particularly in New York City and Philadelphia, burned Catholic Churches and
schools, and killed and injured members of the Catholic clergy. At the same
time anti-Catholics organized the "Know Nothing" society, better
known to our forefathers as the "A.P.A.", whose object was to defeat
Catholics for public offices, and pass legislation dis­enabling Catholics from
enjoying their rights under the United States Constitution.

Since most Catholics
at that time were of Irish extraction, the Irish Americans were made the
special target of these anti-Catholic organizations, and signs were posted at
places of commercial and industrial employment reading, "No Catholics or
Irish need apply". Irish-Americans were discriminated against in business,
and generally ostracized socially.

The situation became
so unbearable and desperate for these early Irish Americans that a group of
sixteen met in a hall in Cleveland, Ohio in 1895, and there drew up a tentative
constitution and by-laws for incorpora­tion of an organization known as
"The Knights of Equity". This group was organized to advance its
members spiritually, materially and socially, to teach Irish history and
culture, and to help the cause of liberty and freedom for the people of
Ireland. Qualifications for membership were that the candidate must be an
American of Irish birth or extraction and a practicing Roman Catholic. A
charter was granted by the State of Ohio for the "Supreme Council of the
Knights of Equity".

Three Courts were
formed in Cleveland, one of which at one time had 5,000 members. Other states
and cities were granted charters and at one time there were 65 courts in an
area from the Canadian border to the mid-south, and from Boston, Massachusetts
to Sioux City, Iowa. The Knights of Equity in cooperation with other Catholic
societies put the A.P.A. and other anti-Catholic organizations out of business.
Their efforts allowed Catholics in most places to enjoy their full civic rights
and to be respected in business, the professions, and public office.

However, after the
passage of some years such anti-Catholic Societies as the Pathfinders,
Guardians of Liberty, The Units, and the Klu Klux Klan once more became active
and began discrimination against Catholics.

They had for their aim
the passage of legislation in the United States Congress to cut off immigration
from the Catholic countries of the world, especially from Ireland.

Once more the Knights
of Equity, along with other Catholic organizations, rose to the occasion and
largely neutralized the bigoted and un-American activities of these misguided
societies.

TODAY?

After these
anti-Catholic and anti-Irish organizations disappeared, the Knights of Equity
became a large and energetic society. The society directed its efforts towards
mutual assistance for society members, to help for the church in any emergency,
and to work for the cause of liberty for Ireland.

Today the Knights of
Equity and their families have their corporate Holy Communion and breakfasts.
They assist in sponsoring the large turn-outs in the St. Patrick's day parades;
they organize Gaelic services to observe the spiritual significance of the
Feast. All courts of the Knights of Equity are cooperating with the diocesan
activities of the church in "Catholic Action". They are sponsoring scholarships
in Catholic high schools and colleges. They have raised funds to purchase
trophies for Catholic school athletic activities. They are assisting orphan
homes, homes for the aged, and young men interested in priesthood. They also
continue to promote the knowledge of the history and culture of Ireland.

While the
discrimination against Catholics has disappeared in the larger cities and
communities of this country, you do not go far afield to find examples of
anti-Catholic bigotry. This is especially evident in com­munities where the
population's religious persuasion is other than Catholic.

In some of these
localities you will find not a single public office-holder of Catholic belief.
This condition exists not only in the deeply bigoted and anti-Catholic south,
but in suburban towns, just a few miles from our largest cities. Secret
anti-Catholic fraternities in these communities see that their own members are
given preferential treatment in public jobs, in business and in the
professions.

In many of our large communities,
national groups have their own organizations to promote their individual
members and, in many cases, they are monopolizing public patronage and business
to the detriment of our un­organized people. We are all Americans first and
denounce discrimination' against anyone. The Knights of Equity will be ready
now as it has been for 60 years to defend its church and members.

If you are an American
of Irish birth or extraction, a practicing Roman Catholic, and are interested
in the aims and objects of the Knights of Equity, follow this link to complete
an application. or here to learn more about our associate membership program.

The Knights of Equity currently have three active Courts in Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Detroit.